UBD Makes Leap in QS Rankings in Asia

UNIVERSITI Brunei Darussalam (UBD) has made a large leap up in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) University Rankings for the Asia region when its position shifted from between 171-180 in 2014 to 118 out of a total of 300 higher education institutions this year.

With an overall score of 47.7, the university continues to rank in first place for the number of outbound and inbound students as part of exchange programmes inked with other notable universities. Its international faculty is currently ranked at ninth place.

According to the www.topuniversities.com website, the QS University Rankings for Asia was launched with the aim of highlighting the top universities in the region and shining a spotlight on the rapid development of an increasingly dynamic region.

The methodology is an adaptation from that utilised for the QS World University Rankings, where the adaptations reflect regional priorities and challenges.

The nine indicators used to compile the Asia rankings are academic reputation (30 per cent), employer reputation (10 per cent), faculty to student ratio (20 per cent), citations per paper (15 per cent), papers per faculty (15 per cent), proportion of international faculty (2.5 per cent) and proportion of international students enrolled (2.5 per cent) as well as the proportion of inbound and outbound exchange students (2.5 per cent respectively).

The last two indicators are not used in the global rankings as they are unique to the region and offer additional insight into the internationalisation activities at Asia-based universities, such as through exchange programmes.

DESPITE first making its appearance in the Sultanate during the 1940s, Kuih Mor continues to be a household favourite today as a tea time snack or festive treat particularly during Hari Raya Aidil Fitri.

Siti Norhafizah Hj Bagol, a final year student at Universiti Brunei Darussalam who researched on Kuih Mor as part of her Brunei Traditional Industry module, said the three-ingredient sweet treat may have existed in Brunei as early as the 1940s when padi was known to have been grown to make different food items.

Over time, the cookie has also become a popular door-gift choice often handed out at Malay weddings or gatherings, said Siti Norhafizah.

Made with flour, oil and granulated sugar which have been ground into a powder, the bite-sized biscuits have a crumbly texture and are coated with powdered sugar.

The age-old technique of making Kuih Mor by hand has however changed over the course of time, with many now opt…

BY COMMAND of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Prime Minister’s Office hereby announces that His Majesty has consented to the transfer and appointment of the following senior officers – Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid, Permanent Secretary (Law and Welfare) at the Prime Minister’s Office as well as the Director of Anti-Corruption Bureau and Solicitor General has been transferred to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; and Datin Elinda binti Haji CA Mohamed, Special Senior Duties Officer, Ministry of Home Affairs has been appointed as Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office and Director of Anti-Corruption Bureau.